Rotary valve for internal combustion engines



Jan. 13, 1942. C, w, HALL 2,270,5

ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 1, 1940 :s sheets-shawl y INVENTOR. CHARMS WH/ILL BYA Q. W. HALL, 2955?@@53 ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL GDMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 1,1196@ 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 4a l' 49 mig@ C W. HALL,

ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMUSTON ENGINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July l, 1940 llllI A INVENTOR CHA/PMS /fi/J /4/4.

@aiented ian. i3, i942 ROTARY VALVE Foa INTERNAL cormUs'rIoN ENGINES Charles W. Hall, Denver, Colo., assignor to E. Cliiord Heald, Denver, Colo.

Application July 1, 1940, serial No. 343,386

(o1. 12s-19o) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a rotary valve for internal combustion engines and has for its principal object the elimination of allv poppet valves, valve stems, cam shafts, valve springs, valve grinding operations, burned out valves, and other disadvantages of the present poppet valve systems in internal combustion engines.

Other objects oi' the invention are to provide a rotary valve to replace the usual poppet valve which will be self-grinding, that is, one which will maintain its seal continuously throughout the life of the engine regardless of wear; to provide improved means for sealing, cooling, and lubricating the cylinder face of the rotary valve; to provide a comparatively short streamlined gas passage through a valve of this character and to provide means whereby the spark plug may be mounted in the valve so that it will be subjected to the combustion heat and ame for only a short interval thereby increasing the life and efi'ectiveness of the plug.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and elllciency. These will become more apparent from the fol lowing description.

In the following detailed description of the lnvention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the head of a typical internal combustion engine' cylinder lllustrating one form of the improved rotary valve 35 ln place thereon.

Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sections through the mechanism of Fig. 1, taken on the lines 2 2 and 3 3, respectively.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the 40 head of a typical cylinder illustrating a second form of the improved rotary valve in place thereon.

Fig. 5 is a cross section, taken on the line 5 5,

Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the cylinder face of the rotary valve of Fig. 4.

Fig. 'I illustrates the head of a typical cylinder with a third formof the rotary valve in place 5o thereon.

Fig. 8 is a cross section, taken on the line 8 8,

Fis. 7.

in the drawings typical parts of an internal combustion engine have been indicated by nupiston head I2, water jacket I3, spark plug opening (in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive) I4. In the speciflcation, the fiat face of the rotary valve in all forms which faces toward the cylinder is referred to as the cylinder face. The curved surface oi the valve is referred to as the conical face.

In the rst fonn of the invention, a valve head yI5 is. secured on the motor block II and provided with a conical valve cavity I6 in which a conical rotary valve II is rotatably mounted. The valve head I5 about the cavity I6 is hollow and provided with water cooling passages I8. In an air cooled engine, of course, the water passages would be eliminated and the valve cavity would be directly exposed to the cooling air.

The valve has the same contour as the valve cavity and. as the former rotates, it wears itself into a perfect seat in the cavity. The upper extremity of the rotary valve is formed with a stub shaft I8 extending beyond the head I5. The shaft extends through a suitable bushing 20 in the head and carries a drive sprocket or gear 2| keyed thereon, by means of which it is rotated at one-half engine speed during the operation of the engine.

Power may be supplied to the gear 2l in any desired manner. As illustrated, it is driven from a combination spur and bevel gear 22 journalled on the valve head. The gear 22 is driven from bevel gears on a valve shaft (not shown) extending throughout the length of the engine. The valve Il is constantly urged into its seat by means of a compression spring 23 compressed between the gear 2i and a spring disc 24 by means of an adjustable compression nut 25. l

The valve head is provided with two ports. herein designated an exhaust port 26 and an intake port 2l. The exhaust port 26 communicates between the side of the head and the side of the valve cavity. The intake port 2'I communicates between the top of the head and the side of the valve cavity at a point above the exhaust port 26, The point of exit of these ports from the head is unimportant as it might be more convenient Vin some designs to bring the port 21 through the side of the head and the port 28 through the top thereof. It is important, however, that they communicate through the conical side Wall of the cavity I6 at different planes of elevation therein. l

The valve II is provided with an intake passage 28 and an exhaust passage 29. The intake passage leads from a point which will register with the intake port 21 intheside wall of the morals as follows: cylinder III, motor block II, ""5 valve, to an eccentrically positioned outlet in the cylinder face of the valve. The exhaust passage 2| extends from a position in the conical face of the valve which will register with the exhaust port Il to a concentric position on the cylinder face of the valve, in circumferential alignment with the outlet of the passage 2|. These passages alternately register with a cylinder port 3l communicating with the cylinder il, and are thus, alternately placed in communication with the cylinder. f

An axially expansible sealing ring Il, acting in combination with a conical sealing ring 3l positioned in the block Ii, seals the cylinder port to the valve ports. The sealing ring 3| is movably carried in a sealing plate il positioned between the valve and the block.

The plate 33 does not rotate with the valve but is prevented from rotation by means of an eccentrically mounted -butien ll. The button M ia eccentrically mounted on a gear shaft il a! a drive gear li. The gear al isdriven from a mail pinion l1 on a stub shaft ll mounted in me rotary valve. The button 34 is rotatably mounted-in a circular receiving opening in the valve plate 8l so that as the button rotates on its eccentric path it imparts a gyratory reciprocation to the valve plate. 'I'his prevents the valve plate from remaining in any set relation to the valve so as to prevent the formation of circular scratches or grooves thereon and acts to unlformly grind or wear all surfaces to a perfect seal.

The button Il is continuously urged upwardly against the valve plate by means of a compression spring 38 and acts to hold the plate tightly against the bottom of the valve at all times. The axially expanding ring 3i forces itself against the rotary valve and acts to force the conical sealing ring constantly against its seat. thus providing a perfect seal. The valve plate constantly reciprocates the sealing ring ll to prevent it from wearing a circular path or groove in the valve.

Lubrication is constantly supplied to the valve plate and its chamber under pressure through a` lubricating port l0. The plate is drilled to allow the lubrication to flow to the button and upwardly through the contact face of the plate. During operation, the intake passage 2l aligns with the cylinder port and the intake port at each alternate revolution of the engine crank shaft and similarly the exhaust passage Il aligns with the cylinder port and the exhaust port at each alternate intermediate revolution. Thus, the engine itself functions as the usual fourcycle engine with all poppet valves, cam shafts. etc. eliminated.

In the form of Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the same principle of operation is employed. In this form, a valve head 4I is attached to the cylinder block over a cylinder port I2. The valve head provides a conical seat for a conical rotary valve 4l. In this valve. however, an intake passage 44 extends from an axial position at the top of the rotatably sealed to the valve by means of suitable packing A thrust bearing il absorbs both the axial and diametric thrusts to relieve both the pressure and friction on the conical face of the valve. The valve is constantly urged upwardly toward its conical seat by means of a valve plate li which in turn is urged upwardly by means of compression springs l2.

The valve plate Il gyrates or reciprocates similarly to the previously described form. In this form. however, this is accomplished by turning an eccentric cylindrical cam surface Il on the bottom edge of the valve and forming a cam follower Bange Il on the valve plate which will ride against this eccentric cam surface to impart a reciprocation to the valve plate as the valve rotates. The flange I4 of the valve plate is constantly forced against the cam surface by means of an adiustable compression spring Iii.

A sealing ring It is mounted in the valve plate and reciprocates therewith. This ring is urged upwardly by means of a multiple, conical, axially and laterally expansible vring l1 which acts thereagainst. 'Ihe operation of this form is similar to the first form.

In the third form of the invention shown in Figs. 'I and 8, a hollow rotary valve il -is employed. This valve has rounded conical sides ntting into a rounded conical seat in the valve head Il. It is constantly urged upwardly in its seat by means of a spring Il, the thrust of which is absorbed by a thrust bearing Il. This form of the valve is shown applied to a two cycle engine. Buch engines have their exhaust ports through the cylinder wall adjacent the bottom of the/piston stroke so that the rotary valve at the piston head need only accommodate the intake gases. For this purpose. an intake passage l2 is formed in the rotary valve from the cylinder face through the inclined side wall thereof at a position to register .with an intake port "63. The valve in this form rotates at crank shaft speed so that the passage 62 will align between the port Il and a cylinder port M at each crank shaft revolution.

A sealing plate 6I is positioned against the cylinder face of the valve. The sealing plate is provided with a stub 6| extending into an ec centrically positioned receiving bearing in the valve. Thus as the valve rotates this eccentric position of the receiving opening will swing the stub il about a circular orbit imparting a gyratvalve to an eccentric position at the cylinder face i ing motion to the sealing plate to prevent it from wearing circular grooves in the valve surface and to uniformly distribute the lubricating oil thereover. The sealing plate is prevented from rotation by means of a tongue I1 projecting therein and is lubricated similarly to the previously described form. A sealing ring ll passes through and gyrates with the plate. An expanding split ring 3l acts against the ring il to hold it against the cylinder face of the valve.

A spark plug 10 is contained within the valve and is threaded into the bottom thereof. there being a gas passage 1I opposite the spark gap of the plug. The plug is positioned substantially diametrically opposite the passage 62 so that it will register with the cylinder port il at the time the explosion is to occur in the cylinder. It will immediately move away from this passage after ignition so that it will not become fouled with combustion products nor damaged by the heat. Current is conducted to the plug 10 through a suitable conductor 'l2 leading y i -v v 8,270,051 te e, contact button 1a supported in an mainline @bushing 1l in the top of the valve. Current may be conducted to the lbutton Il in any desired manner. This construction prevents the plug from ever becoming sumcienty overheated to cause pre-ignition.

It is desired to call attention to the fact that with 'tapered construction oi the valve a full and close contact is had over the full tapered face at all times*l Thiacontact may be much closer than with a cylindrical valve since ex- ,v pension of the valve or contraction oi the casev Y need not be accommodated for.

Anyexpansion 5. Means for gyratlng a sealing plate against V a. rotary valve comprising: ,fan eccentrically mounted button extending'into said plate; and

means for rotating said button to cause said plate l to follow the ecccntricity thereof.

6. Means for gyrating a sealing plate against s'.4 rotary valve` comprising: al button extending v t into -said plate; a gear eccentrically connected to said buttonfa gear drivenvby said valve in o the valve simply forces it further down in its Having thus described the invention. vvhat is.

claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is: Y.'

i. In combinationwith an internal combustion engine having a conical rotary valve for the cylinder thereof, a cylinder port communicating mesh with thel gearon the button for eccentricalz ly rotating the latter irom'the rotation oi said valve and means for preventing rotation ci vthe sealingplate. A i` 7. Means ior'gyrating a.l sealing plate against a rotary valve comprising: a button extending into said plate: rotating means for said button for eccentrioally rotating the latter from the rotation oi said valve; means for holding the scal formed on said valve; and means on said plate for engaging said surface to impart a gyrating with said cylinder, the conical rotary valve hav lng its axis to one side ot said port; a fiat iacelggenggging sid surface to impart a gyrating mo.

on said valve normallycloslng said port: a passage through said valve from an eccentric podtion on the ilat face to a position on the conical wall thereof: and a second passage through'said valve from` a point on the ilat face in register with said cylinder port to an outlet in the conical wall of said valve above the outlet of the ilrst 2. combination with an internal'combustion 1 cylinder comprising: a cylinder port communicating with said cylinder: a conical rotary valve for said engine having its axis to one side of said port: a ilat tace on said valve normally closing said port: a passage through said valve from an eccentric position on the dat face to a position on the conical wall thereof; and an ignition device carried by said valve so -as to align with the cylinder port at selected times as said y valve rotates.

3. The combination with a rotary valve having a sealing plate one of its faces, ci means f r imparting a reciprocatory movement to said te as said valve rotates. 4.' In a rotary valve oi' the type havinga sealing plate against one of its faces, an eccentric member: means for rotating said eccentric mein--V ber in consequence o! the rotation of said valve: and means for causing'thev eccentric rotation of saldmembertogyratesaidvalvcasthelatter rotates.

ing plate from rotation and resilient means fon" urging said button against said plate.

8. Means for gyrating a sealing plate 'against a rotary valve comprising: a stud extending from said plate into an eccentric socket in said valve so that as said valve rotates said stud will gyrate said plate; and means for preventing rotation of said plate.

9 Means for gyrating a sealing plate against a rotary valve comprlsing: an eccentric surface motion to said plate as said valve rotates.

10. Means for gyrating a sealing plate against va rotary valve comprising: an eccentric surface formed on said valve; means on said plate `for` tion to said plate as said vslverotates: antifal spring for maintaining said latter ineensk tact with said eccentric surface.. 1f 11. In combination with an tion engine. a rotary valveicr controllingjy new of gases to said engine, a sealing platejicl. said valve: means for holding said sealing plate; against one of the. faces of said valve. ther@ beingaportthroughsaidsealingplatetorthe gases.asealingringsealingsaidporttosaid valve. and means for imparting 'movement tosaid plate as said valve rotates so that both the' plate and the sealing ring will be moved.

v12. nl. combination with as internal eombus. tion engine cylinder comprising: a cylinder port communicating with said cylinder: a conical rotaryvalve for said engine having its axis to one side of said port: a at face on said valve normally closing said port: a passage through said valve from an eccentric pomtion on the dat face oi' said valve to a position on the conical wall thereof; a hollow concentrically positioned shaft extending from the apex of said valve ior imparting rotation thereto: and a second passage .extending from an eccentric position on the iiat lace of said valve outwardly through said hollow shaft.

W. HALL. 

